Human Rights Watch is pushing FIFA to take action on immigration enforcement, discrimination, and child safety ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be played across the United States. The human rights group says the tournament could put vulnerable people at risk unless organizers put safeguards in place.
The three areas of concern
Human Rights Watch has identified three specific issues it wants FIFA to address. The first is immigration enforcement. The group is worried that U.S. immigration authorities could detain or question fans, players, or staff near stadiums, particularly those from countries with tense relations with the United States. It wants FIFA to guarantee that no immigration checks happen at or around match venues.
The second concern is discrimination. The 2026 World Cup will draw a global audience, including LGBTQ+ fans and people from a wide range of ethnic and religious backgrounds. Human Rights Watch is calling on FIFA to enforce strong anti-discrimination policies and to ensure that host cities protect all visitors from harassment or violence.
Child safety is the third issue. With millions of people expected to attend the month-long tournament, the group warns that children could be vulnerable to exploitation or abuse. It is urging FIFA to adopt child protection standards and to train staff and volunteers to recognize and report risks.
What Human Rights Watch wants from FIFA
The organization has not issued a public report or a detailed set of demands, but it has made its concerns known directly to FIFA. The group is pressing the soccer body to write protections into its contracts with host cities and to monitor compliance during the tournament. Human Rights Watch says FIFA has a responsibility to ensure that the World Cup does not become a platform for human rights violations.
FIFA has not yet responded publicly to the group's pressure. The 2026 World Cup is still more than two years away, and the tournament's organizing committee is still working out logistics with U.S. authorities.
The 2026 tournament will be the largest World Cup ever, with 48 teams playing 104 matches in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The U.S. leg alone will draw millions of visitors. Human Rights Watch argues that the scale of the event makes it urgent for FIFA to act early, before contracts and security plans are locked in.
Past World Cups have faced similar criticisms. The 2022 tournament in Qatar drew widespread scrutiny over labor rights and treatment of migrant workers. Human Rights Watch was among the groups that raised those issues. Now, with the tournament moving to the United States, the group is focusing on immigration enforcement and discrimination—issues that are particularly charged in the current U.S. political climate.
Human Rights Watch is continuing to press its case. The group has not said what it will do if FIFA does not respond, but the 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin in June 2026, leaving a window for advocacy and negotiation.
